Beneath the Facade

Odin remained silent as Loki mocks and laughs at the fool Thor is to offer him one of Asgard's most guarded treasure. Idunn's apple, the fruit of life, of immortality.

Odin passes no judgment, betrays no emotion as he lets Loki have his fun. There is nothing that Loki could say that would turn Odin away from Thor in disgust or unleash his anger for the boy he loves. Loki might think otherwise, for like the rest of the realms, Loki knows Thor the Golden Prince and King before this, but Odin has always known Thor the boy. He knows his son.

Thor… A boy who was forced to grow up too fast as the weight of responsibility was laid on his shoulders. A boy forced to act a man at too young an age, for the whole of Asgards gaze were always upon him. A boy, flawed as any living being is, forced to present to the world at too tender an age, a facade of perfection that is impossible, for he is their Golden Prince. Their pride and joy.

They know Thor the prince, but not Thor the boy, the man, the monster… who is anything but perfect.

Who in his youth, powerless to reign the beast and the anger in him that roars evermore liken the storm he was born to wield, had killed his brother Vali in a blind fit of rage; who had then wept in grief, and fear to even look upon his own hands.

Odin had covered it all up. He had lost a son, he will not lose two.

The Queen must never know it was Thor, Odin's bastard that had killed her boy. Her cruel boy, who had always mocked Thor for being a motherless child; a bastard, a shame, a filth, behind closed doors.

Odin had told the Queen that despite Thor's failure, Thor was ever so brave, that Thor had fought almost at the cost of his life to save Vali from rebels that never existed. And they in turn had told Asgard that Vali's death had came from sickness while Odin ordered the death of the imaginary rebels who were really prisoners on death rows to appease the Queen.

"Our little secret…" He had told the little teary Thor the night Frigga finally put her arms around Thor and accepted him as hers for his bravery. Not simply a vile reminder of Odin's blunder with a giantess that Frigga has to present to the realm as her own, for the King is without flaw.

That was the first time Thor ever had a mother. That was the first time Thor ever felt the embrace of a mother.

The Queen must never know...

For all the kindness and love she posseses, she is fierce and ruthless. She would kill Thor without hesitation and watch him die a slow agonizing death without an ounce of sympathy even if she had learned to love him all these centuries. She is a mother before she is a Queen. The throne be damn, Asgard be damn, she would sit on the crumbling throne as Asgard falls to her ruins around her if it meant avenging her child.

So you see…Odin has always known Thor as he truly is, even if no one else did. He was not shocked or surprised by the things he sees through Loki's eyes, nor was he appalled.

Loki had mocked him once, asking if Thor disgust him.

"No…" He had said. "What moral standard do you compare us to? Mortals? Commoners? We are Gods and Kings, Loki..."

"It must be disappointing to witness the foolishness of your heir" Loki said.

"Why Loki?" Odin asked "Why do you see snares in every kindness, or foolishness in gentleness which you cannot decipher falsehood?"

Loki snorted. "Oh we are back to sentiments again are we?"

"Do not twist the memory Loki"

"And what have I to twist?" Loki asked. "What is it that you think I feel?"

"…"

"Happiness? Joy?!" Loki cried. "I do not feel Allfather! You know this"

Yes, Odin knows it. From the memories, he has seen that over the years, Loki's dark seid has robbed Loki of emotions Loki would now classify as useless sentiments. Perhaps not completely yet, perhaps Loki could still feel them ever so faintly at times, but mostly, it is numbness Loki feels, where positive emotions ought to be.

"Loki…" Odin said. "You may not remember them. But your body does"

At that Loki laughs. "Who'd think that the Allfather is such a sentimental fool?!"

"Is it a fool to have compassion? To have sympathy?" Odin asked. "It is sympathy that I have for your dam that made me spare his life"

"Sympathy for your enemy… you are weak! It amazes me that you live so long"

Odin did not argue, there is nothing to argue. "Loki, why do you smile still? Why do you laugh still?" He asked instead.

"Because that is what Thor wants. I am only obliging"

"Then tell me truly… have you not done things you cannot explain lately? Things that makes no sense? Things that bring you no advantage but one you cannot stop yourself from doing?" Odin asked. "Why do you keep Thor from madness? Why do you sooth him when he needed it? Why do you not pull away from his touch? And why do you want him to look at you when you make love if pleasure is all that matters?"

By the time Odin finishes, Loki was no longer smiling, He was glaring at Odin furiously.

"Loki, you are not without hope. Your body has not forgotten, and in time, your mind can too if y-"

"No! Stop!" Loki cried. "Do not speak as if you know me just because you could see my memory and hear my thoughts. You do not know me!"

"I do not claim to know you" Odin said. "But do you know yourself? Do you even know what it is you desire?"

"I have never been more certain of anything!"

"Tell me then, what is it that you desire?"

"Revenge! I desire revenge for my homeland! I desire the blood of Aesir paints the grounds of Jotunheim in red! I desire Asgard on her knees before me! In slavery! In torment! Just as you have left us to rot and suffer!"

"And Thor in your bed"

"Oh yes…" A terrible smile stretched across Loki's thin lips, revealing his razor teeth.

Odin was silent for a long moment, before he spoke again. "Iduuns apple… eat it" He said. "The seid that corrupts you is of death, Iduun is life… take it. It will cleanse you… It will allow you to know what you have long forgotten. But the moment your practice your seid that draws its powers from death, it will devourer it again"

"And what would I have to achieve in these fleeting moments? What would I gain from these disgusting sentiments?!" Loki asked. "You think sentiments would spare your world? You think something as weak as love would save you all?! Pathetic!" He snarled; his razor teeth bare. "Watch me Allfather. Watch me. Watch as your beloved Asgard burn!"

The hunt was a success. Upon their return swamp of people framed the street, cheering as the warriors rode by. Thor had barely gotten off his mount when Baldur came running.

"Brother! Brother!" Little Baldur beamed, hurling himself at Thor. "Did ya get me anything?! Did ya! Did ya?!"

"Hey buddy!" Thor laughed, picking the boy up, kissing him on the cheek.

"Eww!" Baldur shrieked, wiping his cheek furiously.

"Brat"

"What did ya get me huh? A bilgesnipe's horn?!"

Thor chuckled, turning towards Frigga who stood a little away in her flowing gown of gold. She puts out her slender hand, motioning for him to come closer.

Thor place little Baldur on the floor and reached into his pocket and produce a bear's claw. It was dark and hard, curling a little at the tip but it was sharp.

"Here…" Thor showed Baldur the claw.

"Cool!" Baldur's eyes widened in excitement, snatching the giant claw from Thor's hand. He stared at it for a good long moment, running his little fingers over its smooth hardness. Then he looked at Thor. "What is it?!" He asked.

Thor laughed, ruffling Baldur's hair.

"The claw of a mighty bear that I fell" He said. "Now, go play"

Baldur did.

Thor stood to his feet and turned towards Loki who was looking warily at the queen as he always does.

"Come. Do not be rude" Thor urged and went to Frigga, his cape bellowing behind him.

Loki followed.

"Mother" Thor leans down to place a kiss on her cheek.

"Welcome home my King" Her slender finger reached to touch Thor's face and she turns to kiss Thor on the cheek too. "There is urgent business to be discussed tonight…do not be late…" She whispered so quick and soft that Thor barely caught it before she took a step back. Then her eyes are on Loki. "Loki of Jotunheim. Welcome again" She took a step towards him.

At once Loki hissed.

"Loki!" Thor snapped in indignant.

"It's alright" Frigga simple smile at Thor. "I forget myself. I should leave you to rest. Do you need anything?"

"No mother. But I thank you"

"It is good that you are home" She smiles. Turning towards Loki one last time, she gave him a bow and left.

The moment she was out of earshot Thor snapped his gaze back at Loki.

"What is the matter with you?" he hissed.

Loki said nothing, simply strode towards the palace.

Thor was not surprised to find Loki naked in his bathroom. Loki was in his Jotun form, his fingers working on the stubborn tangles of his ebony locks. Through he did not acknowledge Thor, his scarlet eyes was staring intently at the man through the titan mirror before him.

Thor was not pleased with Loki's earlier behavior, but he was not shock either to say the least. He came up to stand beside Loki. His eyes wondered over the Jotun's cerulean skin.

It was the first time he had actually bothered to look upon the scars that were beautifully carved into that icy skin. There was an overwhelming urged to reach out, to trace his fingers over those raised skin, there was an urge to pressed his hands upon those cerulean skin and brush his thumb over the Jotun's flesh. He wondered how much the ritual must have hurt… He wondered what each line, each pattern symbolizes.

Now that he was no longer fighting himself, now that he was turning the curse into a gift that could possibly unite their realm, he found that it was much easier to admit his curiosity and intrigue, and with that, a willingness and want to know more about Loki. About Jotuns beyond what was written in Aesir text by prejudicial authors.

"What do these scars mean?" Thor muttered, looking up to see those scarlet eyes looking upon him.

Thor had been so lost in his mind that he had not notice Loki watching him.

"Why the sudden curiosity?" Loki asked.

"Why not?"

"…"

"I've just never seen anything quite like it"

"Of course"

Thor thought Loki sounded a little proud about it.

"They are of Jotunheim, and only Jotunheim. You could search all the other eight realms and you will never come upon it" Loki went on.

Thor smiles. Yep, Loki is proud of them.

"So…what does this one mean?" Thor pointed to one on Loki's shoulder.

"Ah…That one is the mark of a warrior. It shows the world that I've…" Loki launched into a full explanation of every pattern Thor pointed out. He was animated as he spoke.

Though Thor could not remember or even understand much of it, he let Loki continue. Pointing to the next one when Loki finished. Loki is proud of who he is… of his culture, his heritage and his identity. While Aesir sees Jotuns as something to be ashamed of, something vile, Loki was proud of it and Thor found that he liked that about Loki.

"They are all so beautiful…" Thor said.

"Without a doubt"

"Yes…" Thor lifted his fingers and reached forth only to halt slightly over Loki's cerulean could feel the biting coldness digging into his skin.

"..."

"Can I touch you?"

"Is it stirring again so soon?"

"No...I just want to touch you…" Thor looked upon Loki's eyes that were hard and cold. "Please…"

So much unspoken words resonated behind that one syllable. So much unspoken words resonated in the silence that stretched between them.

Give me a chance… Give us a chance… Give our realm a chance for what has been impossible before. I want to try… will you try…?

Loki was silent for so long that Thor thought Loki would refuse, but slowly, Loki shed his Jotun skin for Aesir ones. Thor smile, his fingers curled over Loki's forearm and his thumb brushed the underside of it. He took a step forth; his free hand reach to rest over the side of Loki's neck, his thumb caresses the prince's jaw line.

He could feel Loki tense against his hand, but Loki made no move to push him away which Thor took to be a promising sign.

"If only there was a way I could touch you in your true form…I would explore every part of you..." Thor whispered.

"Do you not find it revolting?" Loki challanged.

"No"

Thor did not. Whenever he looked upon Loki's true form, he would remember the fiery Jotun that broke into Asgard. He would remember the thrill he felt when he first laid eyes upon this creature.

"If I could…I will not have you any other way…" Thor said; he leans down wishing to kiss Loki. At once a hand was at his chest.

"No!" Loki said.

Thor stilled, his heart skipped a beat.

"I-"

"No! ...You stink…" Loki said, shoving Thor away. "Come, let's bath"

Thor let out a chuckle of relief. He took off his towel; placing them at the side of the sink, he quickly swapped them for smaller fabric and followed Loki into the massive pool of crystal water. He followed Loki till the water reached their shoulders. Then he darted forth to wrap his arms about the Jotun.

Loki gave him a shove or two, nothing too hard, but Thor released him nevertheless.

"Animal" Loki sneered.

Thor simply smiles; holding the soaked fabric up. "May I bath you?" He asked.

Loki shrugged. He did not mind being bathed normally. He had servants back in Jotunheim that did that for him when the urge to be serve arisen. But instead of water, they poured grinded ice on him and scrubbed his skin till they tingled.

Truth be told, he found Aesir's bath uncomfortable, disturbing even...more so after that incident in the public bath. After that, he had always used Thor's private bath (apparently only royalties are allowed to have private bathrooms). Still, he was uncomfortable enough bathing himself, let alone let someone else bath him. But he wasn't about to admit it to Thor.

He watch Thor warily when Thor bring the soaked cloth up to clean his face, his neck, the back of his ears, scrubbing away two weeks' worth of sweat and grim.

"Let's get your hair soaked" Thor said gently, placing a hand over Loki's shoulder, wishing to submerge him. At once Loki tensed against Thor's hand.

"Thor" He breathes.

"I will not hurt you. I give you my word"

"No!"

"Aye…a moment then my prince"

Thor did not push Loki. He had observed Loki before when Loki took his bath in this chamber. Loki is frightened, terrified even if he dared say it; always staying close to the edge of the pool. He suspected that Loki had moved so far from the edge today because he did not want Thor to know his discomfort, his fears. Putting on a brave face as usual.

Thor moves towards the edge of the pool and called for his servants.

Loki could not hear what Thor was asking for but the servants were quick about it and provided Thor what he desired. Then Thor waved them off again, returning to Loki with an ivory bowl and a small vial of pearly liquid.

Loki watch Thor closely as the Aesir scooped a bowl of water and poured them over the top of his head.

Thor did this a few more times till Loki's tresses were fully soaked before he tips the sweet smelling vial of pearly liquid over Loki's hair. He made sure not to get them into Loki's eyes, as he washes those midnight locks. His strong fingers massages Loki's foamy scalp.

It took a while before Loki finally relax and close his eyes, drifting closer towards Thor. A hand move to rest over Thor's hips, the other, gently over Thor's chest. Whether these were conscious moves or not, Thor could not tell. Then Loki bowed his head, letting Thor work him.

A sad smile tugged against Thor's lips at the little display of trust.

Thor may be desperate, but he is no fool. He prayed, he begged the Norns… let this be real, even just a little. Please oh please…let this not wholly be another part of Loki's scheme…

That night at the welcome home feast Thor slipped away again once Loki had disappeared from the feasting hall as he usually did after he'd cleared his plate.

"Why do you not stay on? Why do you always leave before the feast is over? Is this the manners you were brought up with? Is this how you behave in Laufey's court? Is this how you behave on your dam's feasting table?" Thor had asked once.

"No. Then again we do not dine with those who are beneath us, who are meant to serve us" Loki had answered. "Why you would invite your warriors to your table and treat them as if they are your friends I cannot understand"

"Because I will not have my men die for a king they do not know" Thor said.

Loki had laughed at that.

"And do they know you your Grace?" Loki asked. "Or do they know only the mask you wear?"

"You are late" Frigga said when Thor arrived at the council chamber.

"I apologize for keeping you all waiting" Thor said.

His councilmen nodded.

"What has happened in my absence?" Thor moved across the room to take his place beside Frigga.

Frigga shot him a disapproving glance.

"Sorry" He whispered to her.

Her lips thinned but she did not press on. She looked over the map of Jotunheim that was sprawled across the golden table. Little red pins were concentrated mostly at one particular point, the ice city.

"These are the location of their armies from a week ago" Frigga pointed to the red pins.

"And what of now?"

"We do not know"

"Do not know?!" Thor turns to her in bewilderment, and when she offered no further explanation, he turns to regard his councilmen each in were all silent and grime, refusing to meet his eyes.

What is the meaning of this? What in Hel were they doing while he was gone?! Sleeping?!

"Explain!" Thor commanded.

"Where is he? He is late!" Byleistr snapped in annoyance, stalking from one end of Helblindi's chamber to the other.

He is the rightful heir to the throne. He is to be king! How dare Loki keep him waiting as if he were some servant!

"Calm yourself Byleistr" Helblindi said. "With the way you stomp, you'd wear down the ice on my floor"

"Oh! Always so understanding, brother!" He sneered. "You are a fool! Loki is taking us for fools!"

Helblindi ignored Byleistr. Byleistr's quick temper was nothing new. But truly, Loki is late. Loki who had through the weeks secretly contacted them while the Aesir drank and feasted had told them in their last meeting that he was to join the Aesir's hunt and would not contact them again for three weeks. And it has been three weeks…right?

Helblindi secretly calculated the days again in his head, just to make sure he'd got it right.

They waited a few minutes longer when a familiar mist started clouding the chamber. There were soft echoing chants in words Helblindi could not understand and muted tinkles of bells as the fog thickens and surrounded them.

Helblindi rose to his feet when the mist twisted and curl, materializing into the Loki's swirling visage amid his chamber.

"Finally!" Byleistr said, stepping before Loki.

"Byleistr" Loki greeted, his voice echoed.

"You are late!"

"Forgive me"

Byleistr hissed.

Helblindi shot Byleistr a glare.

"What?!" Byleistr spat.

"Mind your tongue" Helblindi hissed.

"How da-"

"The hunt was a success!" Loki said loudly, his voice seem to ring from every corner of the chamber, interrupting them.

Helblindi growled at Byleistr before turning back to Loki. "And the thunderer? Has he treated you well?"

"He is smitten"

"And you?" Byleistr cuts in coldly.

"What of me?"

"Are you not smitten as well? Spreading your legs for that beast! All knows this is not the first time you've resort to such measures to have what you desire! Is that why you were late?!"

"Byleistr! That is enough! Loki was late, he is here now!" Helblindi snapped.

"No!" Loki said. "Let him speak! I will hear him declare me a traitor and a whore with his tongue should he dare!"

Byleistr was silent. He did not dare. Byleistr knew that blood means nothing to Loki. Byleistr is no craven, but he is no fool either.

"Coward" Loki sneered.

Byleistr mumbled something Loki could not hear. Loki frowned, but he did not press further. He turned back to Helblindi.

"How is our army?"

"Ready. But I do not believe dam would allow you to ha-"

"You let me worry about dam"

"Yes"

"I presume Malekith has arrived with his troops?"

"Yes. But dam do not trust them"

"A fool if I've seen one! The dark elves are strong allies and yet dam does nothing to gain Malekith's favor! A fool I tell you!" Byleistr said.

"Have care how you speak Byleistr!" Helblindi growled warningly. He will hear no slight against their dam! He will not tolerate it! Laufey is their dam and king and they have sworn allegiance to him!

"I speak the truth! Dam has seen too many winters his mind must be going if you ask me!"

"Shut up! You know not what you speak!" Helblindi spat.

"Oh truly?! Why?!" He challenged. "Because I am the youngest I know nothing?! I'm always the fool am I?!"

"You know nothing of war! You were born in a time of peace!"

"A time of ruin!"

"Ruin?! I was born in the middle of a war! You wish to speak of ru-"

"Enough! Both of you!" Loki bellowed, commanding silence.

He turns first to address Helblindi.

"Helblindi…" Loki smiles a sad smile. "Indeed you are a man of honor among monsters"

"Are you mocking me?"

"No…it is what defines you…Never forget that, and never let anyone tell you otherwise" Loki told him.

There are so many things he wished he hadn't done. There are so many things he wished he hadn't known, hadn't seen or be made to do… But it is too late to turn back now. It is too late to feel regret. He had come too far for anything else. He had paid the price for power, and power, he will have.

"…"

"And Byleistr…" Loki turns to regard him. "Dam is right, Malekith is not to be trusted"

"But yo-"

"I do not trust him, but as you say, he is not a force to be reckoned with. We need him. But make no mistake that he can and will betray us at any opportunity" Loki warns.

"If you say so…" Byleistr murmured in displeasure.

They all took him for fools, he knows it. Loki more than any others, he just knows it. Loki the golden child. The favored child! The greatest treasure of Jotunheim!

And he, Byleistr… he is nothing more than a pretty face! He is the fool prince not to be taken seriously!

"Byleistr…" Loki calls gently.

"What?"

"Tell me…How goes your project with the ice city?" Loki asked.

At once, Byleistr lit up as Loki knew he would. Loki let him speak to his heart's desire, smiling and asking questions at the right places even if he could not give a damn about it. He wanted to make Byleistr happy.

Byleistr who had always tried so hard to impress their dam and sire when there was no need for it; who had always felt inferior, and who Loki knew has always looked upon him with bitterness and jealousy.

Loki may not remember what it is to love anyone, but he is not cruel.

A smile touched Helblindi's lips as he watched Byleistr proudly tell Loki all that he had done. For this few moments, Helblindi can pretend that everything is fine. He can pretend that they are not hurdling into an inevitable war, and that he has Loki back as a brother once again, rather than a ruthless creature that sees only the end. It is moments like these that Helblindi refused to give up on Loki.

His brother is still in that shell somewhere… he is in there still. He must believe in this, because no one else did anymore. And if even he would stop believing in it, then Loki will truly be lost forever.

Thor lay in bed silently, staring at nothing. His mind restlessly turns over details from the meeting. They could not see Jotunheim any longer. They are utterly blind now. Jotunheim could invade Asgard tonight and they would be none the wiser until their warriors were knocking down their doors.

The tournament has been brought forward, the ceremony where Thor would announce his consort has been brought forward. Warriors and royalties of other realms would be here in less than two weeks.

Thor debated if this was a good time for such a major event. Frigga was of the view that perhaps this event is the only thing that is halting a full blown war with Jotunheim. Jotunheim would not risk war when foreign royalties are on Asgard. They would not risk hurting them least incurring the wrath of those other realms.

Thor heaved a sigh.

"Perhaps it is time we speak with Laufey" He had suggested in the meeting.

His men had cried out in fury.

"We do not speak with mindless beast!" They had all cried out in one voice. "You forget yourself boy!" "The Jotun whore has tainted your mind!" "Fool! Fool! You are a fool who thinks with your cock rather than your head!" "It has bewitched you! That slut!"

The beast had stirred, screamed in roaring rage. His ears had rang, his mind wrenched from his body and he could remember no more. He could vaguely remember himself shouting like a mad man.

"Thor! Thor!" Frigga had held onto him, placating him. Or at least that was what it looked like to the others, where in actuality, he knew that Frigga had whispered enchantment to calm the monster, bringing him back.

"Treasonous fool!" He remembered himself shrieking when he tore free from that murderous haze of red.

Norns… He fell to his knees then in a sort of daze. He could not speak…he could not think. Everything around him was buzzing so loudly. But he knew in horror, that the beast would have had them all executed, their bodies quartered, cast to every corner of the realm and their heads on spikes if Frigga had not step in.

"The king is exhausted. The meeting will continue tomorrow!" Frigga had declared. "And should I hear even a whisper of this, none of you will like what happen next!"

Thor closed his eyes in exhaustion. "Is there truly no way to stop this…?" He wondered.

He rolled to his side, trying to sleep though sleep did not find him. He laid there for what must have been hours before he hears the soft creek of his door. He did not need to open his eyes to know who it was. Only Loki would enter his room unannounced.

So many questions flashed though his rabid mind but still he remained silent. He listens to the rustling of clothes being dropped onto the ground and then he hears boots being taken off. Not long after, Loki climbs into his bed and went under the covers. Then there was silence.

Loki was so silent and still for so long that Thor thought Loki had fallen asleep when Loki spoke. "Lay with me…" He said softly.

Without opening his eyes, Thor rolled over to lay atop Loki's back, his arms shifted to embrace the Jotun beneath him.

"Better…?" Thor murmured.

"Um"

Thor did not ask where Loki has been or what he has been doing till such an hour. He finds that he did not want to know. He feared the insinuation behind those questions more than the answer itself.

If he had asked what Loki had been doing or where he has been for these pass hours, he would have to acknowledge that nothing is fine between them, that nothing is fine with anything. He would have to acknowledge that Loki is the enemy; acknowledge that Loki might be playing him for a fool even now… and Thor could not bear that thought; because he needed Loki.

He tightened his hold.

He is terrified…so terrified, because he knows he is losing himself.

Over the next few days the palace was bustling with maids running in all directions. Orders were being barked across the hall and arguments broke at all hours of the day. The drapes were of the wrong color, the flowers were of the wrong sort or perhaps they were place in the wrong vase. The floors, the windows, everything needed to be cleaned and the gold polished.

Where are the silvers? Where are those new plates that were brought in not a week ago?! The princesses and warriors from the other realms would be here in less than a week, everything needed to be redone!

The head servant was a little stout woman who has a loud projecting voice. A fiery little thing, and she was ready to pull her lovely locks out and shout herself hoarse in frustration. She even shrieked at Loki once when Loki took an apple from one of those decorative fruit bowls that seem to be lying all around the palace.

"Put it back now!" She had snapped, wrenching the apple from Loki's grip and placing it back into the bowl.

It took a moment for Loki to snap out of his shock. And when he did he was furious. He took the entire bowl in spite earning him a world of pain.

That stout woman had the nerve to hold him by his ear and screamed at him till he puts it down again before she threw him out of that chamber. He could have fought back, but he had been too shock for anything else but to obey.

Thor heard of it later that day from one of the gossiping maids and laughed his head off.

Loki stayed away from the main part of the palace that was turning into a war zone as the days dwindled by and he wore his Jotun skin. At least that damnable woman would not be holding him by his ear again. He spends most of his days in the high balcony overseeing the training ground when he wasn't sneaking around the palace or the golden city under a disguise. He watches Thor and Sif mostly. But Sif was missing today, there was only Thor.

He watched Thor spar with Fandral, the best swordsman he had seen by far. Thor was clearing struggling to keep up when he was armed with a sword rather than his hammer.

Fandral was light on his feet, fast and agile while Thor was more rigid. Thor stumbled back when Fandral slams his heels against Thor's chest. It took but a second before Thor was charging again.

"Fool" Loki thought.

Loki was so focused on the match that he did not notice another presence with him on the balcony until a voice spoke. "Why do you not join them?" The voice asked, almost shocking Loki out of his skin.

He turned at once to see Frigga standing a little away from him. He hissed, his scarlet eyes narrowed intently as he watches her every move.

Loki could still feel that same icy ambiance of death surrounding the Queen, suggesting that she had been practicing the dark arts. He had recognized it at once on the first day back from the hunt. And he did not want her anywhere near him then and now. He did not trust her.

She is a deadly weapon, a viper, when she wills it. Of all beings on Asgard, Loki finds her the most cunning and dangerous.

"Are you watching Thor again? Or is it Sif?" She smiles gently, moving towards the balcony.

Loki hissed, stepping back as the Queen placed her slender fingers over the silver rail.

"Ah…" She looked down. "Thor was never very good with swords. He lacks patience" She watched Fandral knock the weapon out of Thor's hand. "But I am sure you already know that" Frigga turns to regard Loki.

Her face was gentle, her eyes soft and kind, but Loki was not fooled for even a second. This is a woman that means to destroy him. And if he is not careful, she would succeed.

"Tell me Loki, what do you desire?" Frigga asked.

"You who watch me from the shadows for all the time that I am on Asgard… do not deny it...Tell me Queen of Asgard, what do you think?"

"Clever boy. But because you know this…I presume I do not see all that is true at all times" Frigga said.

"Hmm…"

"But I still think Loki, that you are a merely a boy wishing to prove your worth to your people, hoping that they will put a crown on your head" Frigga said. "We can give it to you…the crown… Tell me with your lips that that is what you desire, and it will be yours"

"And how would you do it? Will you unseat my dam and slaughter my kin and all who dare speak against me?" Loki tilts his head.

"It can be done"

"And what do you ask in return?"

"That you leave Asgard in peace"

"Ah…" Loki smirks. Flames seem to flicker within the depths of his scarlet eyes. "You are offering to give me a crown…a wonderful offer... But... it isn't that I do not trust Aesir…It's just…I don't" He mocks

"You are a fool" Frigga said. "You forget that you are nothing but a runt"

"Watch your tongue, witch!" Loki hissed; his fingers curled.

Frigga should have stopped at fool. Call him a fool, a slut, a whore, ergi even, he would let it slide…but a runt...

Frigga was unfazed, looking Loki straight in the eyes.

"Am I mistaken?" She challenged. "You are a runt! A shame of Laufey's house! They will never accept you. They will never respect you. They will never see you as anything but an embarrassment! You will never have the cro-"

"Silence!" Loki screamed, rounding at her.

How dare she speak such vile! He will have their approval! He will! Once he delivers them Odin's head! Once he delivers them Asgard they will cheer his name!

"You think I can be bought by your sweet promi-"

"I know you can. You have no honor even among monsters. You are a monster among monsters" Frigga said.

Loki lips curled; his fingers tightened.

"Beast!" Frigga hissed.

"Perhaps. But I need no crown given by you. What is given can be taken away" He steps closer, towering over Frigga. "No…I do not need your army. When I've paid the price of blood, I will take my crown! And then I will make you watch as I violate Thor, your beloved! Your golden child! The perfect king!"

"Enough!" Frigga backhands Loki, her nails sliced his Jotun skin drawing blood.

Loki accepted it with a smile design to irritate.

"You will lose everything Jotun" Frigga said, her eyes a fire. "Hear me now Loki of Jotunheim! There is nothing I will not do for my family. For Asgard!"

"And there is nothing I will not do for Jotunheim"